I have included under the
heading, Phaseolus both P.
nanus and P. vulgaris, as I cannot discern
any difference in their action. The proving of P. vulg.
is by Demeures. Some effects of eating mildewed beans in a child recorded by W. Dale are
distinguished in the Schema by (D). A. M. Cushing proved P. nanus,
but has only published the symptoms observed on the heart. These are distinguished by (C).
Cured symptoms are bracketed. Some symptoms observed in patients taking the remedy are
included in the Schema. The New Eng. Med. Gaz. (quoted
by Lambert, H. W., xxxi. 125) published a translation of
a pamphlet by Dr. Heinrich Ramm on the uses of "Bean tea." A lady whom Ramm had
treated in vain for mitral disease with liver and kidney complications and dropsy, presented
herself one day apparently cured by drinking Bean tea. This led Ramm to try it in other
cases, and he found that renal and cardiac dropsies were speedily relieved; urine largely
increased in quantity, and in cases of albuminuria, the albumen quickly disappeared.
Dropsical effusion into pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum, according to Ramm, also yield
to it; and all chronic disorders of the urinary tract from kidneys to urethra; pyelitis,
vesical catarrh, gravel, calculi, uric acid, he says, quickly disappear; Ramm considers Phas. a most important remedy in gout and in diabetes. Ramm used
a decoction of the whole dried ripe pod "of the taller variety." He names it P. vulgaris. [The inside of the pod rubbed on warts is said to
cure them.─R. T. C.] We owe to A. M. Cushing (New
Eng. Med. Gaz., January, 1897) the best definition of the power and sphere of
action of this remedy. He names it from Gray P. nanus,
"the common white bean," His paper was read in Boston, and he refers to the
"bean-eating city" and to its reputation "for sudden deaths from brain or
heart trouble," and for premature ageing of young men. I am not quite sure whether this
was jest or earnest, but it points the action of the remedy which in Cushing's proving
caused disturbance of the nervous system, genital organs (impotence), stomach, bowels, and
kidneys, and this symptom, which brought the proving to an abrupt close: "I suddenly
felt a curious sensation in the region of the heart. It was so sudden and strange I
immediately felt my pulse, and found it very irregular and feeble, so much so I think I was
frightened; at least, I did not take any more of the medicine." "Irregular, weak
pulse," "Heart failure," are the chief keynotes of the remedy in heart cases,
and correspond with the one heart symptom recorded by Allen. Demeures in his proving
experienced severe headache from fulness in the brain.
Cushing relates two experiences bearing on this. (1) He
gave a decoction of the dried pods in a hopeless case of uterine cancer with severe general
dropsy with apparent relief. Calling one day and expecting to find the patient comfortable,
he found her dead. "She suddenly screamed, 'Oh, my head!' grasped it with both hands
and was dead." (2) A lady doctor, 30, married, no
children, never ill except with children's diseases, had had much mental trouble two years
before, and had done much cycling. Since then her heart had given trouble. About five times
in a minute the heart would give one hard, unpleasant throb, then omit one beat. During the
night it was much worse and prevented sleep. Phas. 10
was given. Thirty-six hours later the heart would beat a hundred heats without varying, and
improvement continued; but the patient had to give up the remedy on account of the headache
it caused, "as if something were pressing hard against each temple", much worse
after each close of the medicine. The patient was never subject to headaches. Other cases of
Cushing's were: (3) Man, 45, dropsy, heart, and other
complications. Bean pod decoction enabled him to lie down on a couch, and markedly
diminished the dropsy. (4) Clergyman, 69, many years
invalided on account of heart disease, after unusual exertion was greatly exhausted, and
became entirely pulseless, and so remained four days in spite of treatment till Phas. 9x was given. In a few hours pulse returned. In thirty-six
hours it was regular and strong, and so remained till his death, which occurred two weeks
later. (5) Lady, 50, weak, tired, badly acting heart for
some years. Phas. 9x was given, and in forty-eight hours
"her heart wheeled into line all right and remains so." (6)
Lady, 87, heart acted badly, every third beat omitted. After taking Phas.
two days pulse quite right. (7) Confinement case,
primapara, urine loaded with albumen, frightful convulsions, forceps delivery. Two hours
later the heart failed and no stimulants would start it. Phas.
9x was given, and in ten minutes the heart was all right. Twice in the night the dose had to
be repeated, but that was all. The albumen rapidly disappeared and a quick recovery was
made. (8) Man, 92, had been passing bloody urine
(apparently as much blood as urine) for a week. Had previously had urinary troubles,
urinating several times in the night, and passing catheter twice in twenty-four hours; but
for a little time past had not had to use the catheter. Cushing diagnosed prostatic trouble
and gave Phas. 4x, No. 25 globules in water, a
teaspoonful every two hours. (9) Another case of
prostatic hæmorrhage in a man, 70, was cured by Phas.
4x globules dry on the tongue. Well in four days. (10)
Cushing gives an interesting account (Med. Vis., xiii.
375) of Phas. as a vulnerary. Fifty years ago he
accidentally ran one tine of a hay fork into the top of his foot. A backwoods doctor
promised to have him all right next day. He split a medium-sized white bean, bound one half,
the flat, split side, on the wound. The pain was so severe Cushing became delirious, went to
sleep, and woke well. In forty-one years of practice he has tried it in punctured wounds by
rivets, nails, &c., and with perfect success every time. (11)
A lady, 30, took a tablet containing gr. 12 1/2 of Morphine placed in the middle of a baked
bean with suicidal intent. It was in the evening, having fasted since noon. She went to
sleep and woke at 7 a.m. next morning, surprised to find herself in this world. She slept
again till 11 a.m., when she had to get up, but could not walk. A doctor was sent for. She
vomited a little mucus, some dark specks like blood, and a small piece of lettuce, eaten the
previous noon. Query: Did Phas. antidote Morph.? (12) Robust man, 50, had grippe, which developed rheumatism, worse
in arms, occasionally below elbows. Pain so severe he could not lie in bed at nights. Drank
much water. Passed much urine, which Cushing found to contain 3.5 per cent. of sugar. Phas. 5x every four hours removed all but a trace of sugar in
eight days, and the patient was in other respects well. S. R. Stone (Amer. Hom., xxiv. 123) reports the case of Mr. T., 69, whom he
found semi-conscious, yet suffering severely, having been seized with distress in heart
region; respiration laboured; pulse 5l. Had had attacks previously, but lighter, and the
pulse in them had always been slow. Phas. 6x was given,
at first every half-hour, then every hour. Next day patient was nearly well, and said he
"could feel every dose working." In a case reported by Cushing, a nurse, 50,
"had fearful time with her heart palpitating and feeling as if she should die;" Phas. 15x cured. Patient "never took anything in her life
that did her so much good" (H. R., xii. 237).
Remarkable symptoms of the proving were: Soreness to touch─eyeballs,
right rib, epigastrium, right humerus. The headache was <
by movement of the head or any mental exertion, reading, writing, &c. Pressure <. Breathing slow; pulse slow or extinct.

Could only be roused by speaking loudly
(D).─Frightened by irregular action of heart (C).─(Feeling
that she would die, with palpitation.)

2. Head.─

Headache, chiefly in forehead and
orbits, from fulness of brain; < every movement of
head; from 12 noon to bedtime; > in bed, < again 10 a.m. next day.─Pain r. side
forehead while writing.─Severe headache, as if something pressing hard
against each temple, much < after each dose of Phas. (in patient cured of heart symptoms, not a subject of
headaches).─Suddenly screamed, "Oh, my head!" grasped it with
both hands, and was dead (in cancer case taking a decoction of Phas.,
including dried pod, C).

3. Eyes.─

Eyeballs (esp. r.) painful to touch as
from a blow.─Scalding pain in r. orbit.─Pain in r.
orbit when wrinkling skin of forehead.─Very smart itching in inner
canthi.─Pain over r. orbit < by
any mental exertion.─Pupils widely dilated and insensible (D).

Pressure on abdomen apparently gave
pain, child shrank from it and drew up legs (D).─Pain like hernia in r.
inguinal ring, lasting all day.

14. Urinary Organs.─

Bloody urine.─Diabetes.─Uric
acid gravel.

15. Male Sexual Organs.─

Complete impotence (C).─Prostate,
enlargement of.

17. Respiratory Organs.─

Breathing slow and
sighing (D).─(Respirations eight a minute.)

18. Chest.─

Cartilage of last true r. rib painful
as if bruised.─A hard, rounded, projecting, movable tumour, painful to
touch, appears suddenly, above r. nipple, in full state of development (15th day).─(Hydrothorax.)

19. Heart.─

Pulse at wrists rapid and almost
imperceptible (D).─Sudden curious sensation in region of heart; so
sudden and strange he immediately felt his pulse and found it very weak and irregular; was
frightened and discontinued the proving (C).─(Sick feeling about heart
with weak pulse.).─(Last stage of heart disease, pulseless.─Phas. 9x restored pulse, and it remained good till death, three
weeks later.).─(For two years, about five times each minute heart would
give one hard throb, then omit one beat; < night. Phas. 10 cured this and caused headache.).─(Restored
heart action in case of puerperal convulsions and albuminuria when heart failed.).─(Unconscious,
pulseless, respirations eight a minute.).─(Distress in region of heart,
pulse very slow.─Stone.).─Dropsy of pericardium.).─(Fearful
palpitation and feeling that she should die.)